Differentiation of Instruction in Content Area Classrooms
Why are content area classes different from language, writing, reasoning and math classes?
In content area classes such as social studies, science, art, foreign language the students are expected to learn, evaluate and analyze new concepts relating to the world. Demonstrating knowledge of this requires an ability to explain oneself in a coherent manner. The skills learned in writing and reasoning classes are expected to have already developed and the students should be ready to apply those skills to different content areas.
There is an expectation that students have the skills to read, write and reason their way through the new content being presented and that they will be able to use those skills to demonstrate their understanding of the topic. However, that is not always the case. For students with learning, cognitive, emotional behavioral and developmental disabilities, they may have the potential grasp these new ideas in science, history, sociology etc but lack the proper skills needed to articulate just what they know. The job of as a content teacher is not only to teach the subject matter, but act as a reinforcer of the general reading and writing skills needed. Along with the standard evaluations, content specific teachers have the great opportunity to use alternative teaching methods and forms of assessments to allow a broader range of testing so students can both learn and articulate the knowledge in other than traditional ways.
Our Wiki is designed to help content specific teachers develop strategies for planning, teaching, reinforcing and evaluating their students who might not fit the mold of traditional students, which in turn will provide the entire classroom the opportunity to deepen their knowledge through different mediums. We hope you find our resources useful.
For differentiation of instruction in a Science classroom, click here
For differentiation of instruction in a Social Studies classroom, click here
For differentiation of instruction in a Spanish or Art classroom, click here
Differentiation of Instruction in Content Area Classrooms
Why are content area classes different from language, writing, reasoning and math classes?
In content area classes such as social studies, science, art, foreign language the students are expected to learn, evaluate and analyze new concepts relating to the world. Demonstrating knowledge of this requires an ability to explain oneself in a coherent manner. The skills learned in writing and reasoning classes are expected to have already developed and the students should be ready to apply those skills to different content areas.
There is an expectation that students have the skills to read, write and reason their way through the new content being presented and that they will be able to use those skills to demonstrate their understanding of the topic. However, that is not always the case. For students with learning, cognitive, emotional behavioral and developmental disabilities, they may have the potential grasp these new ideas in science, history, sociology etc but lack the proper skills needed to articulate just what they know. The job of as a content teacher is not only to teach the subject matter, but act as a reinforcer of the general reading and writing skills needed. Along with the standard evaluations, content specific teachers have the great opportunity to use alternative teaching methods and forms of assessments to allow a broader range of testing so students can both learn and articulate the knowledge in other than traditional ways.
Our Wiki is designed to help content specific teachers develop strategies for planning, teaching, reinforcing and evaluating their students who might not fit the mold of traditional students, which in turn will provide the entire classroom the opportunity to deepen their knowledge through different mediums. We hope you find our resources useful.